Encyclopedia

GRAND PRIX RESULTS: HUNGARIAN GP, 1994

The unhappy 1994 season continued with the inquiry into the Hockenheim pitlane fire revealing that Benetton was using a refuelling system which had been tampered with by the team. The credibility of the Benetton team was gone after the black flag scandal at Silverstone and the allegations of illegal software which gave their drivers an advantage over the others. Mika Hakkinen was missing from the ranks having been given a one-race ban for causing the first corner accident at Hockenheim and so his place at McLaren was taken by Philippe Alliot.

By lap 15 Schumacher was nearly 10 seconds ahead of Hill and Coulthard was 15secs behind Damon but still well clear of Berger. Brundle was still fifth but Panis had been overtaken by Alesi for sixth place. Schumacher pitted early, having decided on a three stop strategy, and so when Hill came in for the first of his two stops Schumacher went into the lead. Once the pits stops were all done Schumacher was 45 seconds ahead, having dealt with the traffic in a much better fashion than Hill. Coulthard was third but a lap behind with Brundle fourth, Alesi fifth and Jos Verstappen (Benetton) sixth, Berger having dropped back with seventh.

In the closing stages Alesi went out with an engine problem which put oil on the track and caused Coulthard to crash heavily. This promoted Brundle, Verstappen, Berger and Mark Blundell (Tyrrell) into the points. In the last few laps Berger ran into engine trouble and retired. On the last lap Brundle's engine stopped and so Verstappen was third. Brundle was classified fourth while the battle for fifth place was exciting with Blundell, Panis and Eric Bernard (Ligier) all crossing the line together. Blundell took fifth and Panis sixth.